Product Overview

For one year, it was the world's tallest building. More than seventy years after it rose above New York, it still inspires awe and wonder.

Funded by the automotive tycoon Walter P. Chrysler, the 1046-foot-tall building that bears his name is universally regarded as one of the finest physical expressions of the art deco form. From the majestic lobby to the storied "Cloud Club"--a jazz-age speakeasy high above New York that featured private lockers embedded in a hieroglyphic mural where members could stash their bootleg liquor--Modern Marvels leads an extraordinary, all-access tour of the New York City landmark. Extensive photos and rare footage document its construction, and experts detail the deception that let Chrysler claim the sought-after title of "world's tallest building," if only briefly. And find out why the architect of the iconic tower never designed another skyscraper, despite the praise his work received.

The exuberance of the Roaring '20s lives on in one of the most important buildings ever to pierce the Manhattan skyline.